As a thunderstorm approaches, Franklin's friends help him cope with his fear of stormy weather. Full color.

2 Reviews

Franklin And The Thunderstorm: Giants and a Pot of Gold

Review by CyndiCM

December, 24 2001

Pros: excellent illustrations, great story for children afraid of storms

Cons: none

Franklin And The Thunderstorm is a book my Mother purchased for my then three year old daughter Hannah after learning that she was very afraid of thunder and storms. We have read this book on many occasions, usually during a storm but occasionally just because my children like to look at the pictures of Franklin and his friends.

A Scholastic book written by Paulette Bourgeois. This story is for children preschool through grade four. Pretty easy to read, there are only a few words that beginners may need help with. My third grade niece can read this 15 page book by herself with no problem.

The beautiful illustrations in Franklin And The Thunderstorm were done by Brenda Clark. The art is excellent. Such variety of color and superb detail. Franklin is adorable in his rain hat and boots. The colors are vibrant and well suited to the story. The dark cloudy sky looks like it will rain at any second. The illustrations truly are a real pleasure for the reader.

A great story to read with your children anytime. What is the story of Franklin And The Thunderstorm? Read on..

Franklin is supposed to go play at Fox's house but the clouds are thick and dark and he is having second thoughts. Mother tells Franklin that he has plenty of time to get to Fox's before it rains. Franklin puts on his boots and hat, grabs an umbrella and hurries to Fox's house.

Fox is playing outside when Franklin get's to his house. Franklin thinks they should go inside, but Fox thinks watching the clouds is exciting. Franklin say's they look scary to him.

Hawk, Snail and Beaver come to play at Fox's too. When the storm begins the friends all run to the tree house. Fox's mother tells them they must come in the house, because lighting strikes tall things, trees are not a safe place to be during a storm.

The group of friends go into Fox's house, Franklin is very frightened and pulls himself deep inside his shell.

Suddenly the lights go out! Mother Fox is ready and quickly lights several candles and even has a flashlight.

The friends try to make Franklin feel better by talking about what or who is making all the noise from the thunder that they hear. Hawk tells Franklin that the thunder is really just cloud giants playing drums. Snail does not agree and explains that thunder is giants bowling.

After hearing this Franklin comes out of his shell and asks about the lightning? Hawk thinks is it the giants turning their lights on and off. Fox thinks its giants swinging on chandeliers making the lights flash.

Beaver, who has been listening to these explanations has decided that she must say something. Beaver explains to Franklin that lightning is a spark of electricity and that the electricity makes the air so hot it pops and that is where the thunder comes from.

Franklin starts to feel better and even plays some games. After the storm ends the friends go outside to play.

Franklin then shares his theory as to why the storm has ended. "Those giants have heard about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and they've gone to find it."

My children love Franklin And The Thunderstorm and enjoy the pictures of Giants bowling and swinging from chandeliers. Though my daughter still does not like the sound of thunder she no longer screams every time she hears it. Now we try to keep this book handy and read it during storms to try to keep her mind busy with things other than the storm.

If you have a little one that does not like storms this book Franklin And The Thunderstorm may help them learn to make a storm fun rather than frightening. By trying to make up silly reasons for the thunder and lightning you can pass the time of a storm much quicker and more pleasantly than you may have in the past.

Franklin and his friends turn what could have been a bad time into a great time of fun and silliness with their stories.